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When caring for shower commodes and stools, it’s important to perform regular cleaning. Just as shower tile often becomes inundated with mildew if left alone for a significant amount of time, shower commodes and stools need to be cleaned often. It’s important to use a standard scrub brush and tile soap at least once a month to clean a shower commode or shower stool. There are also several cleaning products that can protect a commode or stool from mildew. It’s also possible to use an automated shower cleaner, and leave the commode or stool in the shower as it self cleans. However, make sure to take a scrub brush and cleaner to the underside now and then to prevent mildew from building up in that location.

When mildew gets out of hand, it can also cause other mildew to manifest at a faster pace, so it’s best to keep the shower at a minimum at all times. Even a small amount of mildew in the cracks can translate into a breakout in the near future.

From your shower to your clothes hamper, the bathroom is one of the most personal rooms in the house. Yet, safety and health often come second to convenience and comfort. That’s why it’s important to be mindful of potential hazards. There are simple precautions you can take to reduce your risks, and improve your quality of life.

• Consider putting a cordless phone in the bathroom in a low area in case of an emergency.
• Use a toilet seat riser or toilet safety stand, which fits around the toilet area; which provides handrails for extra support.
• Install permanent/fixed grab bars in areas where you might need a little extra mobility support.
• Medication’s shelf life is better if kept in a cool dry area. Thus it is not recommmended to store medicines in the “medicine cabinet”. Also, check frequently for medication that has passed its expiration date. Discard unused medication to avoid accidental confusion.  
• Frequent handwashing with antibacterial soap helps to kill germs , that can spread colds or the flu.
• Throw rugs could “throw” you! It is recommended to eliminate them throughout your home. They can be a slipping hazard. If possible use a wall-to-wall non-skid rug in the bathroom (without extra scattered rugs).
• Set your water heater to 120°F degrees or lower, to prevent scalding.

For seniors, bathing is relaxing experience that can address soreness in the bones and sooth old injuries.  However, it’s also important for seniors to take precautions to remain safe while bathing.  For most seniors, falling while in the shower or in the bathroom can be a real danger, and to remedy this, it’s important to have the proper equipment in place. Items like a bath chair, shower railings, and bath mats are important to have in place in the senior’s bathroom.  These items will prevent spills and slips in the shower, and can even save lives.  It’s a good idea to have a friend or relative install all of these items in the bathroom and ensure that they’re updated when needed. 

When placing a bath chair in the shower, ensure that the bottom is secured with a bath mat so that the chair doesn’t move around in the shower.  If the bath chair were not secured, it could slip and the senior sitting on it could fall. 

As my grandmother’s caregiver, I had become frustrated with trying to sanitize the wobbly plastic toilet seat riser she had to use. The contraption was necessary, because she had her hip replaced and was unable to lower to and rise from the existing (low) toilet seat in her house. The challenges were multiple, having to remove it and clean it between uses. We would sometime forget to replace the toilet seat attachment, and find ourselves rushing at the last second to put it back into place.  At the same time we’re attempting to steady her onto the toilet, there were times I had to hold it in place to prevent it from slipping out from under her. In hind-sight, I only wished there was a better way to lift her toilet seat a few inches to eliminate all the hassles of using the traditional, clumsy toilet riser. Unfortunately, my grandmother is no longer alive; but this Easy Toilet Riser certainly answers the call for a more civilized way for those in need of an elevated toilet seat!  I wish we had it back in the day. More dignity could’ve been spared my grandmother, for we had many “accidents” without it. God bless her soul!  

When grandpa fell down getting out of the shower and was having trouble getting around, my wife and I decided it was time to have him move in with us.  We wanted to ensure that our household was as safe as possible and that he was comfortable getting around.  While we didn’t need to make a lot of changes to the guest room, we did need to address the bathroom he would be using.  We installed railings in the shower and bath, bought a bath seat, and placed a bath mat in the shower to prevent slippage. 

When grandpa arrived at the house he told us that we didn’t need to renovate the bathroom like we did, but I know he appreciated it.  He’s lived with us for almost a year now, and he’s never had an issue with safety in the bathroom.

Obese people don’t have it easy and they definitely don’t deserve to live a life of disease and filth. But sometimes it’s hard for this unlucky population to find the tools they need to clean their bodies. Bathing can be the biggest burden of all and that’s why certain good-hearted individuals have begun manufacturing products for bathing. Many times what happens is that larger people can’t stand up in the shower or bathtub like the rest of us and because of this they need sturdy bath seats.

Bath seats are designed to fit the contour of a standard bathtub. They also have vinyl grips on the tubing to prevent marring the the tub. Bath seats are only designed for bathtub use. If you desire a model to use in a shower stall, you must insert the bath seats into a shower floor stand.

Nothing is worse than the thought of sitting down on the toilet and not being able to get back up.  It’s an embarrassing predicament, but none the less it is quite common amongst elderly individuals.  To prevent his from happening to yourself or an elderly friend or family member, it’s wise to install handrails in the bathroom, and also an elevated toilet seat.  It’s a fact that a majority of all household accidents that affect elderly people occur in the bathroom, so it’s important to stay safe.

In addition to handrails and an elevated toilet seat, it’s a good idea to install shower safety features, both for showering and getting in and out of the shower.  These products might include bath mats, shower chairs, and railings for support.  If you can afford it, a walk in bath/shower unit is great for elderly people.

Selecting a nursing home is one of the most important decisions you may be asked to make, either for yourself or for a family member. Ideally, this decision would be made far in advance.  Nonetheless, it is often made during a crisis.  Many people don’t have any idea of how to begin their search or what they are really looking for in a nursing facility. Here are some helpful questions you may want to consider on your visit.

Environment

* Do you feel welcome when you enter?
* Do all bedrooms have windows?
* Are there no more than four (4) beds in each room?
* Does each bed have a privacy curtain?
* Does each bed have a nurse call bell?
* Are the hallways and rooms hazard free?
* Are the bathrooms convenient to the bedrooms?
* Are there hand grips near the toilets?
* Do showers and tubs have non-slip surfaces and hand grips?
* Are visiting hours convenient?
* How are roommates selected?

Dining Room

* Is the dining room attractive?
* Are the tables and chairs comfortable?
* Is there adequate access for wheelchairs in the dining room?
* Is the food tasty and attractive?
* Are residents given enough time to eat?
* Do residents receive help eating if they need it?
* Are personal likes and dislikes taken into account when planning the menu?

Activities

* Is there an activities room?
* Are activities tailored to the individual’s needs and interests?
* Have arrangements been made for worship services?
* Are group and individual activities planned?
* Are outside trips available?
* Is there a social services worker available to assist residents and families?

Even with the best treatment, rheumatoid arthritis can slow you down. That’s why a good treatment plan doesn’t stop with just medicine and exercise. If you start to have trouble with everyday activities, help is available.Assistive devices are products and tools that can make life with rheumatoid arthritis easier. These simple devices let you continue to cook, clean, get dressed, bathe, and move around with relative ease.Assistive Devices to Help You Get Around

• A cane or crutch used on the opposite side of a painful knee or hip makes walking easier and makes the joint last longer.
• Braces and splints provide support to joints and decrease strain.
• Reachers are long rods with a grip handle on one end and pincers (like a claw, used to grab) on the other. They let you pick up small objects without having to bend over or reach uncomfortably.
• Elevated chair legs make it easier to get in and out of your seat. The chairs you have can usually be fitted with extenders.

Assistive Devices for the Bathroom

• A tub bench or shower seat lets you bathe more comfortably and reduces the chance of falls. Nonskid shower mats will make the tub safer, too.
• Grab bars make it easier to get in and out of the bath.
• A raised toilet seat with side rails reduces the strain of getting on and off.
• Long-handled sponges help you to wash your legs and feet without bending. Also, large sponges are easier to grip than washcloths.
• Easy-to-pull shower curtains are better than heavy shower doors.
• An electric toothbrush with a fat handle is easier than a regular toothbrush.
• By putting a seat in front of your sink you can avoid leaning forward; the same with using a freestanding mirror for grooming.

When my dad started to get on in years, I realized there were a lot of simple tasks he couldn’t do anymore.  Though he was much too stubborn to accept my offer to move in with me and my wife, I knew I needed to make some changes to his house to reduce his risk of injury.  I started with the bathroom, installing a toilet seat riser, as well as shower handles, and a bathmat.  On the patio I installed a railing for the cement steps to prevent a potential fall.  I also made my dad promise to keep his cell phone near him at all times in case of an emergency at home or elsewhere. 

Thus far there have been no accidents, and I know he was grateful for the new additions, especially in the bathroom.